Removing Epoxy Grout

Q.After the tile installer
left one of our recent projects, we found dried epoxy
grout on some of the bathroom's fixtures. He also
failed to remove the grate from the shower drain when
he grouted and now excess epoxy clogs the drain and
fills in the screw slots, making it impossible to
remove the grate for cleaning or replacement. Is there
an easy way to clean up his mess?

A.Mark Brooks, technical
services manager with Laticrete International,
responds: For spot removal of excess epoxy
grout, your best option is to use a heat gun
capable of reaching 500°F. (Don't use a
torch, which is too hot and may scorch or crack the
adjacent surfaces.) The heat gun will soften the
cured grout so that you can scrape it off the
fixtures and out of the screw slots. After you've
removed the grate, you should be able to clean the
softened grout from it too.

You can also use this approach to remove
individual tiles, though mechanical or chemical
methods are suggested for large-scale grout
removal. (For more information, see Laticrete's
technical data sheet TDS-400 at
www.laticrete.com.)

As with most tile repairs, it's a good idea to
try this method on an inconspicuous area or test
patch first, since a heat gun can damage finishes
as well as some soft glazed tiles. Be sure to
consult the manufacturer of the fixture or setting
product — in this case, the drain assembly
and waterproofing membrane — to determine
its maximum exposure temperature; typically, epoxy
grouts begin to soften at about 160°F. Work
slowly, use tools that won't scratch the chrome
— like wooden scrapers and Scotch-Brite
pads — and provide adequate ventilation,
since heated epoxy grout can give off a fairly
strong odor.